Ecological mobility – the ability for everyone to be able to travel in an environmentally friendly way – is an important topic to young people. An "ecomobile" city encourages people to walk, cycle, and take public transport, and ensures its transport facilities are accessible to all. How can we encourage this in cities across Europe?
Europe's core values include human rights, freedom of speech, and equality, and we know that young people are keen to defend these rights. Diversity and tolerance can be a source of new ideas and can help to bring people together. Are these values in doubt nowadays? Why do you think that is? How can we ensure that the Europe of the future has these values at its heart?
In the 2016 exhibition "Next Generation, Please", Belgian students were asked a simple question: what is European identity? We invite you to think about your answer to this question too. They answered that there is a net of connections among different countries, within and outside the EU. What could be done to foster a stronger sense of European connectedness in the identity of European people? How do you feel the local, national and European levels work together in your identity?
90% of young people who responded to a 2016 survey said it’s important for young Europeans to learn about the EU and how its institutions work. How can education about the EU be improved? What ideas do you have for making sure young people can learn more of the important stuff?
In a recent survey, we found that 32% of young Europeans want to study, train or work in another EU country – but only 12% ever have.
How can we make it easier for more young people to move around the EU and find opportunities to work, study or volunteer? How would you encourage other young people to find out what it’s like to live in another country and get to know fellow Europeans? What ideas do you have to make working and living abroad realistic and rewarding for everyone?
There is a Quality Framework on Traineeships in place across Europe, which recommends that trainees should be able to acquire high-quality work experience under safe and fair conditions. However, the issue of unpaid internships still appears to affect young people across Europe, with some people calling for them to be made illegal. Considering the economic crisis, what are the alternatives for young people who need work experience? Can employers be persuaded to pay their interns a living wage?
There have been many uncertainties and challenges recently. This seems to have led to a growing nationalist and anti-EU attitude in many countries.
Why are so many people being drawn towards political extremism, and what can we do to change that? What would you do to avoid young people being gripped by simplistic solutions to complex issues?
(Let's pretend for a second that a Presidential role exists and it’s you!)
As the President, you can decide what the most important issues are for Europe. What would you change to make things better? How would you do that?
